Energy costs have risen to the top of the agenda for the meeting, which had initially been expected to focus on the bloc’s economic competitiveness. Recent tensions in the Middle East and rising energy commodity prices have added urgency to the issue, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
EU leaders are expected to call on the European Commission to outline steps to reduce electricity prices in the short term, according to a draft of the summit conclusions seen by PAP.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Poland would push for changes to the EU’s Emissions Trading System (ETS), which he described as a key factor driving up energy costs.
Warsaw is seeking solutions to limit the system’s impact on electricity bills while taking into account differences in national economies and energy mixes.
Poland has secured support from a group of member states for a broader review of the ETS.
In a joint letter to European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, Poland and nine other countries called for a thorough review of the system.
The countries also proposed extending free carbon allowances for industry beyond 2034 and slowing their phaseout from 2028, arguing that the current timeline could place excessive pressure on businesses.
They warned that existing rules, combined with high energy prices, pose an "existential threat" to some strategic sectors of European industry.
The group also called for steps to reduce price volatility in emissions allowances and urged the Commission to accelerate its review of the system, seeking proposals by the end of May instead of July.
Some EU countries, however, support the current system, and revenues from emissions trading are an important source of budget income, making comprehensive reform difficult, diplomats say.
Alongside structural changes, the bloc is also considering short-term measures to ease energy costs, including mechanisms to limit the impact of gas prices on electricity markets.
The ETS, launched in 2005, is a cornerstone of the EU’s climate policy and operates on a “polluter pays” principle, requiring companies to buy permits to cover their emissions.
Tusk has also emphasised the broader link between energy and security, citing Russia’s war in Ukraine and instability in the Middle East.
"Energy and security are inseparable," he has said in recent days.
He added that Poland plans to invest about PLN 1 trillion (around EUR 230 billion) in its energy sector over the next decade, including in renewable energy, power grids and nuclear projects.
EU leaders are also expected to discuss the war in Ukraine, including a proposed EUR 90 billion loan package for Kyiv, as well as defence, the EU budget and the situation in the Middle East.
Tusk is also set to take part in informal discussions on migration and regional cooperation formats during the summit.
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Source: IAR, PAP